Escamoles

Worker ants are dwarfed by the larvae they are caring for. These larvae are harvested for consumption by locals. The larvae are called escamoles, from the Nahuatl words “azcatl + molli” which translates roughly into “ant sauce”. These larvae become the much larger winged reproductive caste of the ants which mate and disperse with the first rains of summer. The high price and demand for escamoles are factors contributing to a decline in their populations. Sustainable harvesting techniques, knowledge of their biology, and habitat management are all part of a project aimed at improving their populations. This photo was taken on March 27 while they were being harvested.